How Worried Should Data Center Developers Be About Violence?

The article highlights an escalating trend of violence and threats against data center developers and supporting politicians, following a shooting at Indianapolis City-County Councilor Ron Gibson's home. Gibson, who voted for a controversial data center, found 13 bullets fired through his door and a note reading "No Data Centers." He reported some shots landed near where his child had been playing hours earlier. This incident is the third of its kind this year, including a man arrested in Troy, Illinois, for threatening to kill data center developer employees, and a lawsuit filed by a California company against activists who allegedly suggested assassinating project-involved individuals. The AI Infrastructure Coalition, a pro-data center trade group, condemned the violence, urging local leaders to be protected from threats and criticizing "heated and false language" from opponents. Extremism researchers, such as Clara Broekaert of The Soufan Center and Jordyn Abrams of George Washington University, are concerned about the rising online rhetoric and activism threatening physical actions against infrastructure and people. Broekaert noted a "spike" in such threats since early 2024, often stemming from fears about quality of life, environmental impacts, and water consumption. Abrams linked these risks to historical eco-terrorism and broader anti-tech movements. While acknowledging valid frustrations among data center opponents, the author anticipates an increase in attacks on both structures and individuals involved in the tech boom. This growing sentiment, amplified in online echo chambers, poses a significant challenge that requires serious attention from all stakeholders.